Version 5 of multiple ATLAS/ICESat-2 data sets, accessible through the NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center (NSIDC DAAC), contain a geolocation error for data beginning 24 October 2021. The issue manifests primarily in spacecraft roll and results in a mean across-track position error of 1.5 m (up to 8 m) in the reported photon geolocations. On average, the resulting height errors are small (< 1 cm), and the mean along-track position error is 0.5 m (up to 4 m). Quick Look data sets and ATLAS/ICESat-2 L1B Converted Telemetry Data, Version 5 (ATL02) are unaffected. The issue will be resolved in version 006 of the data, which will be released in spring 2023.
Access to the data and documentation is provided on the data set web pages at the NSIDC DAAC:
ATLAS/ICESat-2 L2A Normalized Relative Backscatter Profiles, Version 5 (ATL03)
Data set DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL03.005
ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Land Ice Height, Version 5 (ATL06)
Data set DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL06.005
ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Sea Ice Height, Version 5 (ATL07)
Data set DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL07.005
ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Land and Vegetation Height, Version 5 (ATL08)
Data set DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL08.005
ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Sea Ice Freeboard, Version 5 (ATL10)
Data set DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL10.005
ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Ocean Surface Height, Version 5 (ATL12)
Data set DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL12.005
ATLAS/ICESat-2 L3A Along Track Inland Surface Water Data, Version 5 (ATL13)
Data set DOI: https://doi.org/10.5067/ATLAS/ATL13.005